According to Statistics Canada revenue from government-run gambling outlets has quadrupled in the past decade. For the year 2002 the overall take toped $11-billion. More than half of that amount ultimately entered government coffers as profit.

Lotteries, casinos and video lottery terminals (VLTs) operated by Canadian governments generated $11.3-billion in revenue in 2002, the agency reported, a 5.6-per-cent jump over the previous year. After prizes and other costs, the governments realized $6-billion in profit, a 253-per-cent increase over the take 10 years earlier.

Casinos accounted for slightly more than one-third of government gambling revenues (34 per cent), with lotteries coming second at 27 per cent, VLTs ringing in at 23 per cent and slot machines outside casinos accounting for 17 per cent

Researchers found that while the likelihood of gambling increased as income increased, richer people also spent less — relatively speaking — than poorer people. Almost 60 per cent of households with incomes under $20,000 reported gambling the previous year, wagering on average $357 per year. At the other end of the spectrum, more than three-quarters of households earning more than $80,000 gambled, wagering an average of $642 each.

Ten years ago the average Canadian spent roughly $130. In 2002 Canadians spent on average $447. The number fluctuates dramatically in different parts of the country, swinging from a low of $105 per capita in the three territories to a high of $604 in Alberta.